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No. 622,085. Patented Mar. 28, I899.

- H. E. SHEPARD.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR CYCLES.

(Application filed Dec. 81, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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Inventor.

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PATENT FFICE.

HOMER E. SHEPARD, OF ROCHESTER, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIRD TO JACOB E. RENNER, OF SAME PLACE.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR CYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,085, dated March 28, 1899. Application filed December 31, 1897. Serial No. 665,056. (No model.)

To all whom; it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOMER E. SHEPARD, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Cycles; and I. do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to driving mechanism particularly adapted for use on cycles whereby the advantages of a high gear are obtained with considerable power and without the necessity of having the pedals to which the riders feet are applied traverse a large circle; and to these ends it consists generally in the employment of two cranks provided with pedals which are adapted to operate, as levers alternately near the periphery of a driving-wheel connected with the tractionwheel of the vehicle, whereby the rider is enabled to apply considerable power by reason of increased leverage; and it further consists in certain improvements whereby the mechanism is adapted t0 bicycles in a comparatively simple manner, all as will be hereinafter fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cycle driving device embodying my improvements; Fig. 2, a sectional view on the line w w of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an elevation of a portion of the opposite side of the machine from that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a vertical sectional view through the crank-hanger and frame; Fig. 5, a sectional View on the line 1 y of Fig. 1.

Similar reference-nu merals indicate similar parts.

The main frame of the cycle to which my invention is to be applied may be of the usual or any suitable construction; but I prefer to form or connect the front tube 1 directly with tends through the hanger and is secured to the frame and to the hanger 2 itself by brazing or in any other suitable manner, as shown particularly in Fig. 4. This construction brings the hanger quite low,which is advantageous,besides strengthening the parts without adding materially to the weight thereof. Upon the outer periphery of the hanger 2, at its ends, are mounted adjustable bearingcollars 3, and outside of these collars are collars 4, the space between the collars being filled by antifriction-balls 5. The collars 4 are adjustably connected to rings 6 6 one being mounted on each side of the bicycleframe, each of the rings 6 6 having connected to or formed with it a crank 7 7 upon which are adjustably mounted pedals 8 of any suitable construction. The rings 6 6 are not connected directly with each other, excepting through the sprocket or driving wheel, as hereinafter described.

9 indicates a large driving-wheel, preferably in the form of asprocket and connected by a chain 10 with the traction-wheel of the cycle and mounted rigidly upon a tubular axle 11, extending through the bearing-sleeve 12 in the frame and passing through the crankrings 6 6 but below and in rear of the center thereof, as shown. The bearing-sleeve 12 is secured in position between the seat-post and the rear fork, which extends at an angle to the front tube, as shown in Fig. 4. This connection may be formed entirely by brazing, if desired; but I prefer the use of the screws 40 in addition, as shown. At the opposite end of the axle 11 from the wheel 9 is secured an arm 13, and as a means for removably connecting the wheel, axle, and arm I provide a central spindle 14, having upon its end nuts 15 for confining the parts, as shown particularly in Fig. 2. Adjustable bearings are provided between the axle 11 and the sleeve 12 by balls 16, arranged between adjustable collars 1'7 and 18 on the axle and sleeve, respectively. The centers of rotation of the rings 6 6 carrying the cranks, are eccentric of the center of rotation of the wheel 9 and preferably above and forward of said center, and the Wheel is provided near its periphery and on the outer face with two antifriction-rollers 19 and 20, the latter preferably having-a rib at its periphery cooperating with a corresponding groove formed on the lower side of the cranks, preferably that on the right-hand side of the machine, said crank being offset and extending through an aperture in the wheel and between the rollers, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The crank '7 on the opposite side of the machine is also grooved on one side in a manner similar to the crank 7, and the crank 13 also has rollers 19 and 20 thereon similar to those on the wheel, but on diametrically opposite sides of the center of the latter from said last-mentioned rollers. The relative length of the cranks and the radius of the sprocket-wheel may be altered, as desired; but it is preferable that the radius of the sprocket be the greater, as by this means a high gear with economy in the power applied may be obtained without excessive movement of the pedals.

hen power is applied to the forward pedal, the crank to which it is connected will operate as a lever, having its fulcrum at the lower side of the bearing between the ring and hanger and will operate upon the sprocketwheel near its periphery, thereby giving increased power during at least a portion of its rotation, and \vhen the left pedal (the one on the farther side in Fig. 1) is forward the power applied to it will be transmitted through the crank 13 and the axle to the sprocket also, the maximum effect being obtained when the cranks are in line with the centers ofthe rings and wheel.

\Vhile I have shown and described the driving-wheel 9 as a sprocket connected to the ing through the hanger and connected to the frame, and the sleeve eccentrically arranged in the hanger, of the axle journaled in the sleeve, the wheel thereon, and the ring on the hanger having the cranks connected to the wheel.

2. The combination with the tubular hanger, the bearing-collars thereon, the rings surrounding the hanger having the cranks, the bearing-collars on the rings, and the balls between the collars, of the driving-wheel, axle and ball bearings therefor arranged within and eccentrically of the hanger, the crank on the axle and rollers on the crank and wheel between which the ring-cranks operate to drive the axle and wheel.

3. The combination with the hanger, the ring-cranks journaled thereon, the continuous tubular axle and bearings therefor inside the hanger, and eccentric thereof, of the driving-wheel mounted on one end of the axle-independent of the bearings, the crank on the opposite end of the axle independent of the bearings, the removable spindle or bolt extending through the axle, a nut on the end thereof, said spindle operating to hold the wheel and crank on the axle, and connections between the ring-cranks and the axle-crank and driving-wheel.

4. The combination with the tubular hanger, the rings mounted on opposite ends of the hanger, and the offset cranks on the rin gs having pedals at their outer ends, of the axle journaled in the hanger and eccentrically thereof, the sprocket-wheel at one end of the axle having an aperture through which one of the ring-cranks extends, and the rollers with which said ring-crank engages, and the crank on the axle opposite the wheel, having the rollers with which the corresponding ringerank engages, the point of connection between thering-eranks and the axle-crank and driving-wheel being between the rotary centers of said cranks and the pedals, whereby the cranks will operate as lengthened levers in propelling the driving-wheel, substantially as described.

HOMER E. SHEPARD. lVitnesses:

F. F. CHURCH, G. A. RODA. 

